Hohe Strasse

Hohe Strasse is one of Cologne's principal shopping streets and among the busiest pedestrian thoroughfares in Germany. Running north from the cathedral through the historic core, it follows the line of an ancient Roman road that once formed the main axis of the colonial city. Roman remains, including sections of the old street level, have been uncovered beneath it. Lined today with shops, department stores, and cafes, the traffic-free lane draws dense crowds, though its history as a commercial spine stretches back nearly two thousand years.